Volume One: The Dragon Rises from the Wilds, Chapter 123: To Journey Far, One Must Take the First Step

At the southern end of the deserted island stands a stone mountain.

The mountain is about a hundred fathoms high, surrounded by the sea on three sides and covered in lush, dense forests. A group of ten people came to a halt at its base. Meng Qingqing led the way, accompanied by Gan Xing, Qiu Yuan, and five disciples of the Chen family. Naturally, Yu Ye was also among them; he was there partly to help carry timber and partly because he was curious to see the refuge of the cultivators.

The deserted island is located deep within the vast, remote ocean. It was truly intriguing that a high-level cultivator would choose such a place for refuge. However, Gui Yuanzi had followed along as well, claiming that as an old man, he simply enjoyed being where the action was.

"Everyone, follow me—" Meng Qingqing called out, leading the ascent.

Though the mountain was only a hundred fathoms high, it was steep and difficult to traverse. Gan Xing and Qiu Yuan utilized their movement techniques to head straight up. The Chen family disciples, all sturdy men, followed closely behind, unwilling to fall behind.

Yu Ye took a few steps up and looked back. Gui Yuanzi had walked over ten miles with them without falling behind, but now, clutching a small tree, his legs were trembling and he was gasping for air; clearly, his body was failing him.

Yu Ye reached out a hand. "Old Daoist, let me give you a hand!"

Gui Yuanzi shook his head, wheezing, "To travel is to reach the distance; to climb is to reach the summit. I am not so frail, so stop mocking an old man!"

"Old man, do not force yourself, lest you exhaust your constitution!"

"Hmph, mind your own business!"

Yu Ye sighed in resignation and turned away.

Before long, they reached the summit. The top of the mountain, once dense with tall trees, had been cleared into a small open space. Fallen trunks lay about, and Ah Hu stood there with a group of Chen family disciples. However, Meng Qingqing, Gan Xing, and Qiu Yuan were nowhere to be seen.

"Yu Ye, have you been well?" Ah Hu was overjoyed to see him.

"I am unharmed."

Yu Ye exchanged greetings with the group, and the Chen family disciples welcomed him with smiles. His feat of repelling the pirates in the hour of crisis had won him much respect.

"The day I abandoned you and the two Daoists, I have not been able to sleep or eat in peace! To think we have met again; it seems our fates are deeply intertwined!"

"I appreciate your concern!"

"I am afraid I must trouble you again. Please, look—"

Yu Ye and Ah Hu exchanged a few pleasantries. Having been abandoned and nearly sent to a watery grave, Yu Ye was not magnanimous enough to harbor no resentment. However, he was not one to vent his grievances on others without cause. Besides, Ah Hu’s words seemed sincere, his concern evident.

In the clearing, two large trees lay on the ground, stripped of branches and leaves. Only the straight trunks remained, still seven or eight fathoms long and two feet thick.

"These are century-old cedars, perfect for making masts. Though they haven't been dried, they are barely usable. Unfortunately, cedar is quite heavy, and we cannot move them down the mountain."

"Why not ask the Daoist disciples for help?"

"Those masters are busy searching for wonders and treasures."

"Where did Meng Qingqing, Gan Xing, and Qiu Yuan go?"

"Lady Qingqing took the two Daoists to the foot of the mountain..."

From Ah Hu, Yu Ye learned that Tao Feng and the others had discovered a cave and were busy treasure hunting, leaving the task of moving the timber behind. The cave was located at the foot of the stone mountain, set within steep cliffs inaccessible to ordinary people. It seemed that Meng Qingqing’s talk of a cultivator’s refuge held some truth.

Yu Ye walked up to a cedar trunk, rolled up his sleeves, and gripped one end with both hands. He managed to lift it only two feet before he had to give up. Even with his strength of several hundred catties, moving the heavy timber proved difficult.

Ah Hu shook his head anxiously. "Without a mast, we cannot hoist the sails. The ship cannot set sail, and we will be trapped on this deserted island..."

Yu Ye mused in silence, eyeing the timber on the ground. A moment later, he raised his hand and gave a flick.

"Ah—" Ah Hu gasped in surprise.

The Chen family disciples nearby stared with wide eyes, looking all around. The two cedar trunks that had been lying on the summit had vanished into thin air before their eyes.

Yu Ye looked at the iron storage ring on his left hand and smiled. "Do not be alarmed. I will return the two masts to you later!"

"A storage ring?" Ah Hu realized, yet found it hard to believe. "A storage ring is only a few feet in size; how could it store a trunk seven or eight fathoms long?"

Though well-traveled, he was unaware that the iron storage ring was not an ordinary one; its internal space was dozens of fathoms wide.

Yu Ye said nothing more. He raised a hand and said, "Ah Hu, you and the brothers go back first. I am going to settle a score with Tao Feng!"

"Oh, out here in the wilds, let us not damage the harmony!"

Before Ah Hu could stop him, Yu Ye had already disappeared. Ah Hu smiled bitterly and muttered to himself, "One should be kind..."

...

Yu Ye moved rapidly through the treetops. A moment later, he stopped abruptly.

The southern side of the stone mountain ended in a sheer drop, as if sliced by a blade. Through the gaps in the branches, one could see the churning sea below. Between the cliffs lay a narrow stone path, ending at a protruding crag.

Yu Ye jumped down from the trees, peered over the cliff, and then, grabbing the crevices in the rock, lowered himself until he landed on the crag.

The crag was narrow, barely enough to stand on. Nearby was a cave entrance a few feet wide, pitch black inside, the situation unclear. Was this the cultivator’s refuge?

Yu Ye hesitated, then stepped into the cave. After a few paces, the darkness gave way to an open space.

It was a cavernous hall, twenty or thirty fathoms across. Several torches were stuck into the rock walls, likely left by Tao Feng and the others, but the Daoist disciples were nowhere to be seen.

Before Yu Ye could finish his surprise, he froze. Three others were searching the cave: Gan Xing, Qiu Yuan, and Meng Qingqing. Yet, in the corner of the cavern, sitting on a stone bed, was an old man—none other than Gui Yuanzi.

Yu Ye didn't think twice and hurried over. "Old Daoist, you..."

"Shh!" Gui Yuanzi raised a finger to his lips, signaling him to be silent, and continued to stare intently at the stone wall.

On the wall were a few shallow marks—neither characters nor runes—vague and indistinct, with no discernible meaning.

"Playing the mystic!" Yu Ye muttered, unable to help himself. "You are old and frail; climbing the mountain was hard enough. How did you find your way here? Did you fly?"

"Are your eyes blind? Didn't you see the small path on the mountain?" Gui Yuanzi retorted without turning his head. "Hmph, I walked here."

Yu Ye was left speechless and scratched his head. Every time he thought he had caught Gui Yuanzi in a lie, the old man easily deflected it.

The spacious cave contained a stone bed, a stone table, and a stone desk. It was clear that someone had lived here.

Gan Xing held a torch, scanning the area. "Fellow Daoist Qingqing, this is indeed a cave dwelling. Perhaps a master lived here in seclusion, but why do you call it a place of refuge?"

"Oh, it's just a guess," Meng Qingqing replied. "It is far from civilization, desolate, and devoid of spiritual energy. If not for refuge, who would live here in seclusion?"

"Where are Tao Feng and the others?"

"When I left, the Daoist brothers were still here. How could they have vanished...?"

"Could there be another way out?"

"Brother Gan, look—" Qiu Yuan had discovered something and pointed. On the wall before him was a thin crack, with a burning torch stuck beside it.

Gan Xing went to investigate. The crack extended in a circle, looking like the seam of a stone door.

"Indeed, there is another way!" Gan Xing pushed against the wall. The stone door moved slowly, the seam widening. He and Qiu Yuan nodded at each other and pushed with all their might.

Without a sound, the stone wall slid open several inches. It was undoubtedly a stone door.

"Heh!" Gan Xing was overjoyed. He moved to open the door further, but suddenly sniffed, catching a faint, fragrant scent. Just as he was puzzled, a thick plume of smoke burst from the crack. In the blink of an eye, the rolling smoke swept through the entire cave. He and Qiu Yuan retreated in haste, sensing no immediate danger.

Meng Qingqing’s expression changed, and she hurried toward the cave entrance.

Meanwhile, Yu Ye stood behind Gui Yuanzi. The old man and the young man stared at the wall. Given Gui Yuanzi’s obsession, the marks on the wall must have been significant.

"So that's it..." Gui Yuanzi clapped his hands and smiled. But before he could finish, his head drooped, and he collapsed limply to the ground.

Yu Ye turned sharply. In the swirling smoke, Gan Xing and Qiu Yuan had fallen one after the other. Meng Qingqing, before she could reach the entrance, also collapsed.

Yu Ye felt a familiar wave of dizziness wash over him. His legs buckled, and his eyes rolled back as he fell beside Gui Yuanzi.

A moment later, a strong wind swept through the cave. The torches on the walls flickered and went out. The smoke dissipated instantly.

At that very moment, the stone door slowly swung open. As the torches were relit, several figures appeared in the cave: Tao Feng, An Yunsheng, He Qingnian, Luo Chen, and a visibly uneasy Yu Xin.

"Heh!" Tao Feng looked at the fallen Gan Xing and Qiu Yuan, delighted. "The Soul-Severing Powder worked!" He summoned his flying sword and ordered, "The time has come to avenge my fallen brothers from Daze!"

Yu Xin said uneasily, "Brother Tao, I fear this is not right. My junior sister is unaware of this..."

"What is not right?" Tao Feng rebuked. "We have already offended Gan Xing and Qiu Yuan. Do you think they would let us live? If not for Brother Yu's Soul-Severing Powder, we would be in grave danger today!"

As he spoke, he swung his sword.

*Splat—*

Blood sprayed as Qiu Yuan was decapitated.

"Heh, so much for an expert at the eighth level of Qi Refining!" Tao Feng laughed, his murderous intent growing. "Do it, everyone!"

An Yunsheng, He Qingnian, and Luo Chen hesitated. Yu Xin took two steps back, his face full of distress.

Tao Feng growled, "You all bear deep blood feuds; how can you be so indecisive!"

He swung his sword toward Gan Xing. A Qi Refining master under the effects of Soul-Severing Powder was no different from a mortal; the sword would surely end him.

Unexpectedly, as the sword light descended, there was a loud *bang*. A flash of light erupted from Gan Xing’s body, blocking the strike. In that instant, Gan Xing opened his eyes, summoned a blade of light, and leaped up to charge at Tao Feng.

Caught off guard, Tao Feng shouted, "Fellow Daoists, unite to fight the enemy—"